Causes and Types of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy Fitness - Types of Cerebral Palsy

Different Types of Cerebral Palsy Treatments

Various Types of Cerebral Palsy in Infants

Cerebral Palsy Types

Cerebral palsy has affected over 500,000 children and adults throughout the country. Unfortunately this disorder has no cure. There are some treatments that will help to relieve some of the symptoms but for the most part it is not going to make it go away entirely.

Cerebral palsy affects the muscle tone, movement and motor skills. Generally the main cause of this disorder is brain damage that occurs during birth. But there are some instances that it has happened after birth.

Cerebral palsy has different types, the three different types are spastic cerebral palsy, athetoid cerebral palsy, and ataxic cerebral palsy.

Each of these types will affect you differently. Spastic will cause stiffness and make movement very difficult, they will be jerky movements rather then smooth. Athetoid causes random and involuntary movements throughout your entire body, including your face. Ataxic cerebral palsy will cause poor coordination of movements, and your balance and coordination will make it difficult to walk. This type of cerebral palsy is rare, but it does affect more then enough people.

No matter which type of cerebral palsy you have it will affect muscle control and coordination making the normal routines very difficult to do such as breathing, going to the bathroom, or eating. Living with cerebral palsy is extremely difficult, and it's also hard for the caretaker as well. It can easily become very frustrating, but it should be kept in mind that it's also very hard for the person that is dealing with the disorder. Someone suffering from cerebral palsy is not necessarily dumb, they just can not articulate themselves because of the part of their brain that the cerebral palsy has affected. Imagine if you all of a sudden was unable to speak would that mean that you should be considered dumb. No you shouldn't just because you all of a sudden was unable to communicate verbally doesn't mean that you are dumb. Keep that in mind.

It's important that you look into the many different treatments for cerebral palsy, because they will help to alleviate some of the symptoms of the disorder. Some of these treatments will include physical therapy, speech therapy, and botox injections. I understand you may feel like what's the point of doing therapy if it is not going to completely get rid of all of the symptoms, but if you were given the chance to be able to function a bit easier wouldn't you want to take advantage of it, and this is what some of these therapy treatments will do for you.

P Abbey owns and operates http://www.cerebralpalsyissues.com - Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy - Causes, Types and Treatment

"Cerebral" is medical terminology for the brain. "Palsy" means a disorder of movement or posture. So in simple terms, Cerebral Palsy (CP) describes a group of conditions where movement and posture are affected as a result of damage to one or more areas of the brain. Cerebral palsy is characterized by an inability to fully control motor function, particularly muscle control and coordination.

Depending on which areas of the brain have been damaged, one or more of the following may also be present although every person with CP is affected in a different way:

Balance and coordination problems
Difficulty controlling and maintaining posture (help required to sit upright)
Epilepsy - Up to one in three children with CP also have epilepsy.
Difficulty eating and drinking (swallowing) and talking
Learning difficulties

Cerebral Palsy is the most common childhood physical disability. Around one in every 400 children born in developed countries has CP. In the United States, it is estimated that some 764,000 children and adults exhibit one or more of the symptoms of Cerebral Palsy. Around 8,000 babies and infants are newly diagnosed with the condition each year. Despite medical advances, incidence has not declined over the last 60 years.

Often the exact cause of a child developing Cerebral Palsy is not known, but contributing factors can include infections such as meningitis, bleeding into the brain, pressure or blows to the head and lack of oxygen. These may have occurred before, during or after birth and the severity of the cause will affect the severity of the damage caused to the brain. For example, each minute that a baby is deprived of oxygen during a difficult delivery will increase the extent of brain damage caused.

Cerebral Palsy is classified into three main types; Spastic, Athetoid and Ataxic. Those with Spastic CP have muscles that are weak, tight or stiff making it difficult for the person to make controlled movements. Those with stiff or tight muscles will find it difficult to fully extend arms and legs, while those with weak muscles may be unable to stand unaided. Spastic Cerebral Palsy is the most common type of cerebral palsy, accounting for nearly 80 percent of all cerebral palsy cases.

Athetoid Cerebral Palsy is caused by damage to the cerebellum or basal ganglia. These two areas of the brain work in opposition to create smooth, coordinated movements as well as maintaining body posture. Damage to one or both of these areas creates an imbalance that may cause a child to develop involuntary, uncoordinated movements, especially in the face, arms, and trunk. Secondary problems with eating, speaking, picking up objects may also result from the imbalance. Approximately 10% of those with Cerebral Palsy are Athetoid.

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy is characterised by low muscle tone and poor coordination of movements. Ataxic children look very unsteady and shaky and have a disturbed sense of balance and depth perception. This is particularly apparent when walking which is unsteady and can resemble an intoxicated adult. Ataxic children can also suffer from shaky hands which make it difficult to hold a pencil and write.

Although Cerebral Palsy is not progressive (the brain damage does not get worse) and there is no cure (brain damage can not be repaired), tight, stiff or weak muscles will become increasingly so as the child gets older without therapy or treatment and in severe cases surgery. As a result, the child will inevitably become more dependant on their parent or carer and less able to lead any sort of independent life. Appropriate and regular therapy provided from an early age can significantly improve mobility and coordination abilities, independence and quality of life.

Sally Aspinall is founder and director of the Cerebral Palsy Physiotherapy Centre, the only centre of its kind in the UK providing therapy and treatment to cerebral palsy and brain injured children and adults from around the world. Sally can be contacted via the CPPC website or email sallyaspinall@cppcltd.co.uk

What Are the Various Types of Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is actually a term that is used to describe a number of disorders that are caused by the damage of certain areas of the brain, which can affect muscle movements. Cerebral palsy in a person will restrict movement but it does not become severe as the patient advances in age.

Most neurologist, therapist and pediatricians who deal with cerebral palsy patients have come up with different classifications of the disorder based on muscle tone. Anyone who is affected by cerebral palsy has parts of the brain, which control muscle tone damaged to varying degrees. Depending upon the damage there can be increased muscle tone or decreased muscle tone or even a combination of the two which is called fluctuating muscle tone. The parts of the limbs, which are affected, depend upon the damage to the parts of the muscle tone in the brain.

Cerebral palsy can be classified in three main categories, which are Spastic Cerebral Palsy, Athetoid Cerebral Palsy, Ataxic Cerebral Palsy and Mixed cerebral palsy. While in spastic cerebral palsy there is stiffness in the muscles and the patients finds it difficult to move their limbs with ease. In Athetoid cerebral palsy, the movement of the limbs is uncontrolled and involuntary. The patients who suffer from Ataxic cerebral palsy will exhibit symptoms of a disturbed sense of balance and depth perception. Mixed cerebral palsy can be a combination of any of the symptoms of the other three types.

Children with spastic cerebral palsy can have a single or more muscle groups which restrict movement thus causing them to be stiff and jerky in their movement. These children will find it extremely difficult to move from one place to another and need help. They also will not be hold objects in their hands with ease. In all probability they will drop the objects that are placed in their hands.

Athetoid cerebral palsy patients will have bodily movements that are uncontrollable and slow. This is because the muscles are extremely weak and they can go from being limp and floppy one moment second and then to being rigid and tense the next moment. They have distorted facial muscles and would drool all the while because of their inability to control the muscles in their tongue, mouth and throat. This particular type of cerebral palsy is caused because the middle parts of the brain namely the cerebellum or basal ganglion that is damaged.

Ataxic cerebral palsy can be found in only 5 to 10 % of patients suffering from this disorder. Here the symptoms are poor co ordination of muscle movement due to poor muscle tone. The patients would have shaky movements while they walk and even a slight tremor can be seen in their body. Ataxic cerebral palsy is caused due to the damage to the cerebellum, which is present at the base of the brain leaving the muscle tone to be very poor.

In mixed cerebral palsy, the patients can have a combination of symptoms of any of the above categories. Around 10% of children will exhibit this type of palsy. Her many areas if the brain can be damaged so the patient will exhibit different types of symptoms.

Melvin Kops, the author of many articles regarding health, nutrition and medicine is an expert in his field. Well qualified in medicine, Kops has been writing about various diseases like cerebral palsy their causes and their possible cures. Having a keen interest in writing, Kops has coupled his knowledge of medicine with his flair of writing to dispense information about various diseases and cures.

Types of and Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is not a disease it is a condition. Cerebral refers to the brain and palsy means weakness or lack of muscle control. In addition, cerebral palsy is not a single problem, but a complex disease in which virtually all brain cell types could need repair. Approximately 90 percent of all cases are caused by brain injury during the prenatal period (before labor begins). This condition is caused by damage to brain cells that control the movement of muscles. A person with cerebral palsy can have mild to severe physical disabilities. There are varying degrees of therapies depending on the degree of condition. However, just because a person has cerebral palsy, it does not mean they will have other disabilities.

Causes and Risks

Recent studies suggest that cerebral palsy is mostly due to factors affecting the brain before birth. In about 70 percent of cases, cerebral palsy results from events occurring before birth that can disrupt normal development of the brain. This condition is caused by an injury to the brain during pregnancy, at birth, or shortly after birth. The symptoms are usually not noticeable at birth. It was previously assumed that it was caused by fetal distress, such as a lack of oxygen, during the birth process. However, lack of oxygen at birth has not been shown to be the major cause. The motor deficits of babies are usually unrecognizable before 4-6 months of age.

A preemie's risk of cerebral palsy is much higher than that of a full-term baby. In addition, exposure to herpes group B viruses was associated with a two-fold increase in risk. Reproductive/urinary tract infections also may increase the risk in a preterm delivery. Preemie's are already at risk for cerebral palsy and account for approximately one-third of the cases. Adequate prenatal care may reduce the risk of the unborn baby.

Viral infections, lead poisoning, or head injuries that occur early in life can result in acquired cerebral palsy, a less common condition. Spastic cerebral palsy, the most common type, is a condition in which there is too much muscle tone. However, cerebral palsy is NOT a progressive condition, meaning that it does not worsen over time. Cerebral palsy generally is a long-lasting (chronic) condition.

There are roughly 8,000 infants born with this condition each year and some 1,200-1,500 preschool age children acquire cerebral palsy annually. Most children are diagnosed by age 5. Despite significant improvements in obstetric and neonatal care in recent years, the incidence of cerebral palsy has not decreased.

Types

Athetoid cerebral palsy affects the ability to control muscles, leading to involuntary and uncontrolled movements in the affected muscles

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of cerebral palsy. Approximately 60 percent of all individuals with cerebral palsy have spasticity that is characterized by tense, contracted muscles. Doctors will often describe which type of spastic cerebral palsy a patient has, based on which limbs are affected.

Ataxic cerebral palsy affects the sense of balance and depth perception. Children who suffer from ataxic cerebral palsy can be described as being very shaky and unsteady.

Symptoms

Children with cerebral palsy may develop eating difficulties, bladder and bowel control problems, breathing problems, and learning disabilities. Children with cerebral palsy have limited use of their arms due to the dysfunction of their neural motor control and stiffness of their joints. Dysarthria is common in people with cerebral palsy, due to problems involving the muscles that control speech and mastication. Although Cerebral Palsy is a permanent condition, as a person learns and grows and practices skills, more control over movement may be achieved.

Treatment

Treatment of cerebral palsy requires a team of specialists to help maximize and coordinate movement, minimize discomfort and pain, and prevent long-term complications. Because the symptoms of cerebral palsy can cause behavioral and emotional problems, many children benefit from counseling or behavior therapy. It is also not "curable" in the accepted sense, although education, therapy, and applied technology can help persons with cerebral palsy lead productive lives.

The goal of drug therapy is to reduce the effects and prevent complications. Physical, speech, and occupational therapy along with counseling today are employed to help people lead healthy, productive lives. Most children with cerebral palsy benefit from early and regular physical and occupational therapy. In addition, education, therapy, and applied technology can help persons with cerebral palsy lead productive lives.

Conclusion

With early and ongoing treatment, the disabilities associated with cerebral palsy can be reduced. People living with cerebral palsy are usually able to live independently in the community, with or without assistance. With support and treatment, though, many people with cerebral palsy can live healthy, happy lives.

For more information about cerebral palsy, visit Cerebral Palsy [http://www.cerebralpalsyinfoguide.com]